The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-28
Bronoho Lou.
WILD LIFE or THE FEMALE TERROR OF
THE WEST.

Las cruces IN. ny Letter In the N. Y. sun.
Though new, this country has be
come old enough to have an occasional
example of the effects of heredity.
Broncho Lou, the woman desperate,
who not many years ago was the ter
ror of Southern Colorado, has a son
who has just distinguished himself by
committing perjury in the hope of hav-
ing his mother hanged, so that he
might inherit her property. Up to
1881 Lou belonged to band of out
laws, which made its headquarters in
Colorado. Since that time and under
various names she has lived on a ranch
In Lincoln county, iu this Territory,
where she has considerable stock. 10
her younger days che was dashing
woman, with enough of grace and
health, brightness of eye and freshness
OF complexion to make her pass as
reasonably good looking. She was as
queer a compound of ferocty and gen.
tleness, devilishnes and decency, bru.
tality and womanliness as was ever
seen. She rode horse like a man.
She was strong and 1.-THE and could en-.
dure anything. In spite of her hard
life her figure was trim, her voice mu-
sical and her hands deft. She could
kill man with revolver or knife and
nurse q wounded or sick companion
with equal dexterity. She was an ex-
pert in all games of chance and on
more than one occasion she figured as
dealer in gambling houses where her
shrewdness and nerve brought her big
salaries. An unerring marksmau, no
one cared to get within range of her
rifle. She is credited with killing two
husbands in Colorado, and nobody
knows exactly how many she has made
away with here.
When the band to which she belong
ed in Colorado became so troublesome
that the settlers could put up with their
lawlessness no LONGER posse was or
ganized to go in pursuit The desper-
ADDE'S were encountered at an abandon
ed railroad camp, and after two or
three men had beer killed on both
sides four of the outlaws including
Broncho Lou, were obliged to surren-
der, the others getting away. Lou was
not injured, but her three companions
were all severely wounded. Although
it was the intention of the crowd to
lynch the fellows, Lou persuaded them
to desist, aud on her suggestion all
were conveyed to the Jail at Las Ami.
mas. Here the feeling was so great
that no one would attend the wounded
prisoners, but Lou dressed their wounds
and brought them out all right. As
little restraint had been put upon her
she did not have much difficulty in
making arrangements for the escape of
the entire party, and one morning the
jailer found that all were gone.
If they had left the country then it
is probable that they would not have
been pursued, but they remained in
the southern part of the State, commit
ting many depredations When these
became intolerable another posse set
out, and pitched battle was event.
ually fought with the thieves, in the
course of which several of the latter
were again taken prisoners. The posse
had ropes ready and were about to
lynch their captives, when Lou and
one companion, well mounted and
armed, descended on the party with such
impetuosity as to stampede it and give
the prisoners chance to escape. Go.
ing south, Lou was never afterward on
Colorado soil. Her old companions
scattered, and she married again and
settled down in Lincoln county the
haven of Western toughs, making oc-
casional journeys to the towns found
about, as the inclination moved her.
AT that time she was known as Mrs.
Yankers, though she was familiarly
designated by her wild acquaintance
by the old Colorado soubriquet of
Broncho Lou.
She was in Socorro in 1888, and
while engaged in gambling game
with Robert Black she shot him dead.
1t was shown by her associates that
Black had been the aggressor, and on
the preliminary examination she was
dismissed. Later on the grand jury in
vestigated her case but found no indict-
ment. Apprehending no more trouble
on Ibis score, Lou went back to her
ranch and there married Will am Daw-
son, with whom she lived on better
terms than had characterized her re-
lations with any of her previous hus-
bands. But he became involved in
quarrel with John III. Good and was
killed by him, and Lou came here to
prosecute the murderer. While in this
town word was received by her from
Socorro to the effect that she had been
indicted there for the murder of Black,
and she at once took steps to investi.
gate the matter. 1t was not long be
fore she discovered that enemies had
been before the grand jury, but she did
not learn the full truth until last week
when her case came on for trial before
Judge Henderson.
Besides the attorney whom she had
retained, Broncho Lou had her son, a
young fellow named William Raper.
with her, and up to the minute that he
took the stand she and her friends sup
posed that he was friendly to her.
Once under oath however, he proved a
most dangerous witness against her.
He swore that Black had been killed
by his mother in cold blood, and that
the weapon found in his possession
was placed in his hands aftor he fell to
give color to the story of selt-defense.
SO pointed was his testimony that for
a short time it was feared that Lou
vas doomed, but her attorney had not
gone far with the cross-examination
before the young scouudrel became in
volved in contradictions, and at length
owned up to the fact that he hoped by
swearing against his mother to have
her hanged or sent to prison for life,
so tina. he could get her property. The
crowd In attendance was very demon
'trative, and the Judge more than once
et tall remarks which showed his sb:
norrence OF tho conspiracy 30 brazenly
entered into and so impudently con-
fessed. While he was making this
Broncho Lou sat with her
hands to her face crying, and when she
vas told to take the stand il was some
lime before she could proceed. Her
irst exclamation was: